When Electronic Arts bought Bioware and Pandemic in October of 2007 (completing the deal in January of 2008) there was always going to be some 'synergies' to follow. 'Synergy' in the case of acquisitions is usually a cypher for 'lay offs'. Well, one year on from closing the deal, EA has reportedly closed Pandemic's Brisbane studio.

According to AustralianGamer, the studio, "will keep their IP and their equipment, but they're on their own. Essentially they are a start up again. Also from the sounds of it most of the staff have been let go, and only a very small number will remain (less than 10)."

It had been rumoured that the studio was working on a Dark Knight game before this was removed from it.

Queenslander Matthew Hayden retires from cricket and Brisbane loses a studio. It's a bad week to come from the maroon state.